Shoe stretching device



Dec. 1W, 1935. H sc c 2,023,618

SHOE STRETCHING DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 1954 INVENTOR Wfi/M A'ITORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,023,618 SHOE STRETCHING DEVICE Harry Schecter, New York, N. Y. Application August 25, 1934, Serial No. 741,354 14 Claims. (01. 12-1285) This invention relates to shoe stretching devices and is particularly directed to a device having means for stretching the instep of a shoe.

An object of this invention is to provide a highly improved stretching device of the character described, provided with an accessory for stretching the instep of the shoe; said accessory being removable; and the construction being such that the shoe may be stretched in width without stretching the instep, even when said accessory is not removed.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described, constructed for stretching the instep of the shoe without stretching the shoe in width.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a neat, compact and durable stretching device of the character described comprising comparatively few, simple parts; which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, smooth in operation and withal practical and eflicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe stretching device embodying the invention with one side removed.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my improved stretching device.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the parts in another position.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the instep stretching device.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 'l? of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but illustrating a modified construction.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a crosssectional view similar to Fig.

.7 but illustrating a further modified construction.

Referring now in detail to the drawing. I0 designates a shoe stretching device embodying the inventionand comprises a pair of complementary mating body parts II and I2 having aligned through openings I3 and I4 and for- 5 wardly and inwardly curved cavities I5 and I6 on the inner surfaces thereof communicating with the through openings I3 and I4. Disposed within the recesses or cavities I5 and I6 is a member I'I having aligned cylindrical portions 10 I8 and I9 projecting into the openings I3 and [4, respectively. Said member I! is provided with a central tubular internally screw-threaded portion |9CL receiving therethrough, an elongated screw threaded member 20 provided with a handle 2| at the rear end thereof. Pins 23 and 24 extending through openings in the body members II and I2 and through openings in said portions I8 and I9 serve to pivotally connect the body portions II and I2 to the member I! and permit 20 spreading of said body members about said pins in the manner hereinafter described.

Journaled on the front end of the screwthreaded member 20 is an arrow-head shaped member 21 received within the recesses I5 and 2 I6, and adapted to contact the curved surfaces thereof upon turning the handle H, to move the member 21 forwardly for spreading the body members II and I2 about pins 23, 24. In this manner stretching the shoe in width is accom-- upstanding tubular portion 30 open at the upper end, and mounted thereon is an instep stretching accessory 3|. The accessory 3| comprises a member 32, preferably made of spring sheet metal and comprising a substantial pear or heartshaped portion 33 of curved cross-section, and a rearwardly extending longitudinal portion 34 formed with a longitudinal slot 35.

The portion 34 is provided with downwardly extending side walls or flanges 36. The outeredge of portion 33 is preferably curved downwardly somewhat as at 31. Fixed to the inner surface of said portion 33 on both sides of the longitudinal axis thereof are similar, symmetrically disposed members 40, each having a triangular portion 4| fixed to said under surface, in any suitable manner, for example, by welding. Extending from the inner-side of each portion 4| is a folded-back, outwardly extending portion 42 having an upturned outer-edge 43. Extending from the outer-side of each portion 4| is a downwardly extending flange 45 adapted to contact the upper surface of the portion 42. Said members 40 are likewise preferably formed of spring sheet metal. slidably mounted on the portion 34 of member 32 is a member 46 received between and guided by the flanges 36 and having a lug 47 projecting through the slot 35. A screw 48 on member 46 extends through said slot 35 and a wing nut 49 screwed to the upper end of said screw serves to fix said member 46 to said portion 34 in any suitably adjusted position. Hinged to the forward end 50 of the member 46 is a member 5| slidably received within the tubular member 30.

The operation of the device will now .be explained. With the parts, as shownin Fig. 1, the device is inserted intoa shoe. The wing'nut 49 may then be loosened and the member 32 pushed forwardly until the same contacts the inner surface of the instep of the shoe. It will be'noted that the member 32 rests onthe instep of the body portions II and I2. Thewing nut 49. may then be tightened to fix the member 32 to the member 46. Upon thereafter turning the handle 2I, the accessory 3I moves forwardly with member 21 to stretch the instep of the shoe. As the handle 2I is turned, the bodyportions II and I2 are also spread apart by said member 21 to stretch the shoe in width. If it is desired to stretch the shoe in width without stretching the instep, it is merely necessary to loosen the wing nut 49 as the turning of the handle continues. It will be noted that the resilient portions 42 contact the body portions I I and I2- whereas the resilient member 33 contacts the inner surface of the instep of the shoe.

With my improved construction, pressure on the instep of the shoe is somewhat yielding to prevent injury to the material of which the shoe is constructed. As the parts are moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the outer-end of the member '32 slides to-.

wards the toe end of the body portions II and I2. The path of the hinge 56, however, remains parallel to the screw 23 and thus the angle of the member v33 increases, causing a gentle and gradual stretching of the instep of theshoe and minimizing the likelihood of injury thereto. It will be noted that the member 3| is entirely removable, to permit use of the stretcher for stretching shoes in width only. It will be noted that at the beginning of theoperation with .member 21 at the rear of recesses I5, [6, the handle 2| may be turned without spreading the body portions. II and I2. During this portion of the operation, the instep of the .shoe is stretched without stretching the shoe in width.

As shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, the downwardly turned edges 31 of portion 33 and the upwardly turned edges 43 on the portions 42 of the members 40 terminate short of the forward ends or tips of said portions.

In Figs. 8 and -9 there is illustrated a modified construction of the instep stretching member. The member 50 shown in saidfiguresis constructed substantially similar to the .member 32 and is provided with atransversely curved pear or heart shapedportion 5m and a rearwardly extending longitudinal portion 52 formed with an elongated slot 53 for receiving members. The side edges of the portion 5|, however, .are curved downwardly and inwardlyas at 55 .forming a rolled edge for contacting the body members II and I2, to prevent cutting into said body members Themember 50 may be slidably at:-

tached to the member 46 in the same manner as is the member 32.

In Fig. 10 there is shown a still further modi fied construction of the instep stretching device. The device 60 shown in Fig. 10 is somewhat simi- 5 lar to the member 33 shown in Fig. 7 but has fixed to the undersurface thereof a member 6| welded or otherwise secured as at 63 to the longitudinal mid-section of the member 60 and having resilient outer ends 62 adapted to contact the body 10 members II, I2. It will now be understood that the member 60 contacts the inner surface of the instep of the shoe, whereas the spring portions 62 of the member 6| contact the body members II, I2. 15

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention .are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be 20 made of the invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative and 25 not in a limiting sense.

Having thusdescribed my invention, I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A shoe stretching device comprising a pair ofbody members, means interposed between said 30 body members for spreading the same including a screw-threaded member and a member journaled .on the forward end of said screw-threaded member and having an upstanding portion, a member slidably engaging said upstanding por- 35 tion, a member hinged to the upper end of said last mentioned member, and a member adapted to engage the inner surface of the instep of the shoeslidably engaging said hinged member and adapted to be fixed thereto in adjusted positions.

2. A shoe stretching device comprising a pair of mating body members, a member received between said body members and pivoted .to said members and having a screw-threaded opening, ascrew screwed within said opening and having a handle on the rear-end thereof, an arrow-head shaped .member journaled on the front end of said screw-threaded member and adapted to spread said body members, and a member adapted to engage the instep of the shoe, removably 50 mounted on said arrow head shaped member, and said member being adjustable longitudinally with respect to said arrow head shaped member.

3. A shoe stretching device comprising a pair of mating body members, means for spreading 55 said members for stretching the shoe in width, means, for simultaneously stretching the instep of the shoe including a single handle adapted to be turned for efiecting said simultaneous stretching operation, and means for rendering said last 60 mentioned means inoperative without removing the same, whereby said shoe may be stretched in width without stretching the instep thereof by turning of said handle.

. 4. A shoe'stretching device comprising a. pair 65 of body members, means for spreading said body members comprising a member disposed between said body members, a member screwed thereto, a member slidable between said body members and journaled on said screw member, and means for simultaneously stretching the instep of the shoe, said last mentioned means comprising a member made -.of resilient sheet metal and mounted on said 'slidable member.

5. A shoe stretching device comprising a pair of body members, means for spreading said members and means for stretching the instep of the shoe; said last mentioned means comprising a member hinged with respect to said first mentioned means and slidable with respect thereto.

6. A shoe stretching device comprising a pair of body members, means interposed between said body members for spreading the same including a screw-threaded member and a member journaled on the forward end of said screw-threaded member and having an upstanding portion, a member slidably engaging said upstanding portion, a member hinged to the upper end of said last mentioned member, and a member adapted to engage the inner surface of the instep of the shoe slidably engaging said hinged member and adapted to be fixed thereto in adjusted positions; said last mentioned member being made of sheet metal and having curved-edge portions adapted to contact said body members.

'7. A shoe stretching device comprising a pair of body members, means interposed between said body members for spreading the same including a screw-threaded member and a member journaled on the forward end of said screw-threaded member and having an upstanding portion, a member slidably engaging said upstanding portion, a-member hinged to the upper end of said last mentioned member, and a member adapted to engage the inner surface of the instep of the shoe slidably engaging said hinged member and adapted to be fixed thereto in adjusted positions; said last mentioned member comprising a portion of curved transverse cross-section and having downwardly and inwardly curved outer edged portions.

8. A shoe stretching device comprising a pair of body members, means interposed between said body members for spreading the same including a screw-threaded member and a member journaled on the forward end of said screw-threaded member and having an upstanding portion, a member slidably engaging said upstanding portion, a member hinged to the upper end of said last mentioned member, and a member adapted to engage the inner surface of the instep of the shoe slidably engaging said hinged member and adapted to be fixed thereto in adjusted positions; said last mentioned member comprising a portion of transverse curved cross-section and spring members attached to the under-surface of said portion.

9. An accessory for stretching the instep of a shoe adapted to be used with a shoe stretching device, comprising a member made of sheet metal and being curved in transverse cross-section and adapted to engage the inner surface of the instep of a shoe, and a member fixed to the longitudinal mid-section of the undersurfac'e of said first member and having outwardly extending resil- 5 ient portions adapted to contact the shoe stretching device.

10. A shoe stretching device comprising a pair of body members, means interposed between said body members for spreading the same, including a screw threaded member, and a member journaled on the forward end of said screw threaded member and having an upstanding portion, a member removably mounted on said upstanding portion, and a member adapted to engage the inner surface of the instep of a shoe slidably engaging said last member and adapted to be fixed thereto in adjusted positions.

11. A shoe stretching device comprising, in combination, a pair of body members, means for spreading said body members, and a member for stretching the instep of a shoe slidably mounted with respect to said means, and means for attaching said member to said spreading means in adjusted position.

12. A shoe stretching device comprising, in combination, a pair of body members, means for spreading said body members including an upstanding portion on said means, a member removably mounted on said upstanding portion, and a device for stretching the instep of a shoe having an elongated slot receiving said member.

13. A shoe stretching device comprising, in combination, a pair of body members, means for spreading said body members including an upstanding portion. on said means, a member removably mounted on said upstanding portion, a device for stretching the instep of a shoe having an elongated slot receiving said member, and means for fixing said member to said device in various adjusted positions.

14. A shoe stretching device comprising a pair of body portions, means for spreading said portions to stretching the shoe in width, including a member movable between and longitudinally of said portions, and means removably mounted on said member for stretching the instep of the shoe, said last mentioned means including a member adapted to contact the inner surface of the instep of the shoe and be longitudinally adjustable with respect to said first member, and means for attaching said second member to said first member in adjusted position.

HARRY SCHECTER. 

